RE: PH2 ridden: Triumph Tiger Explorer

RE: PH2 ridden: Triumph Tiger Explorer

Monday 21st May 2012

PH2 ridden: Triumph Tiger Explorer

Watch out GS owners, there's a Tiger on the road...



A few months ago I was invited to a 'pre-launch' unveiling of the Tiger Explorer. It wasn't a riding test (more's the pity), it was simply a detailed look at the technology behind Triumph's new Explorer and the reasons for its creation.

During the day I spent with the Explorer's designers two things really struck me - firstly how important it is to Triumph that the Explorer is absolutely 100% from the word go and secondly the fact they have unashamedly taken BMW's GS and tried to beat it. Why do I know this? Parked in the corner of the presentation room was a GS! Yep, during a technical briefing about their new Explorer, Triumph actually brought the competition into the same room and pointed out to the assembled journalists what they had done to try and beat it! Is that bravery or fool hardiness?


The ride
Like the GS, the Explorer feels a big and solid bike. The bars seem a bit wider spread than the BMW but, just like the GS, the riding position is dominated by the petrol tank. It's a big old unit on the Explorer (20 litres) but this is actually smaller than Triumph planned. During the design stages the tank was trimmed down as the test riders thought it dominated the ride.

With the engine running, the first surprise with the Explorer is that it sounds like the GS. At low revs the Triumph's triple has that deep bark that the boxer motor also has, something I wasn't expecting. On the move the Explorer seems to shed a lot of its 259kg. Through bends it feels solid and secure, just like the GS. But when turning into corners and braking, the Explorer's conventional fork front end as opposed to the BMW Telelever/Paralever set-up gives far better feedback.

I'm not a huge fan of the BMW's front end and, while owners seem to get on with it, I reckon it muffles some of the feedback from the front tyre. It's a personal preference and I'm not saying it's a right or wrong thing, I just don't really like it.


Motor matters
The 1,215cc triple is brand new for the Explorer and it's a real beauty of an engine. On the road I didn't manage to get the traction control activating (the first time Triumph has developed such a system) but I love the torque-laden nature of the triple. I dropped the revs right down to 1,500rpm in top and the Explorer still pulled smoothly without stuttering, which was very impressive.

The throttle response is excellent, and when you get it spinning the Triumph certainly seems faster than the BMW. On an adventure bike top speed isn't much of an issue - it's more about the low-down grunt - but it's always nice to have a bit of poke at the top. Interestingly the Explorer comes with cruise control as standard (though that's something I didn't bother using as the only time I like cruise control is when you are on a Gold Wing and you can stick it on and hop in the pillion seat to scare other drivers...)


Does it beat the GS?
With bikes like this you really need to cover big miles to get under their skin and, while I have taken a GS to Moscow, I only got to try the Explorer for a few miles in the UK. So I wouldn't like to say if it is better or worse than the BMW, but it is it is certainly different. While the Explorer, to me, lacks a bit of the ruggedness of the GS, the engine is far perkier and nicer to use, while the handling is considerably more 'normal' thanks to its conventional suspension set-up.

I love the details and dedication that Triumph have put into the Explorer - stuff like the huge generator to power all your electrical gubbins, or the easy-to-use dash, but I do think the view from the riding position is a bit 'plasticky'. On the comfort side, the two bikes are much of a muchness and, when it comes to cool optional extras such as fog lights, Triumph has mimicked BMW's catalogue and you can fully load your Explorer just as you can with a GS.

So does the Explorer knock the GS off the top spot when it comes to adventure bikes? The reason the GS continues to sell so well is that it has encapsulates the adventure image and dream so perfectly. Ride one, and it says that, although you might not be about to set off around the world, you look as if you could. As well as buying a cracking bike, you are also buying into a lifestyle.


A developing lifestyle...
Triumph has yet to develop this 'lifestyle' image, but don't let that dissuade you from considering an Explorer over a GS. Especially if you want to stand out from the crowd. The BMW's ubiquity works against it, you see. Everywhere you go in the world you see a bloody GS parked on the side of the road, something you won't get (at the moment) with the Triumph.

The Explorer is every bit as good a road bike as the GS and, in some areas such as the handling and engine, is actually better. It is also a bit more exclusive and, best of all, British. My only worry with the Explorer is that as they have tried so hard to beat the GS, in some ways Triumph has almost created a GS clone. Yes, it has Triumph's own unique stamp, but it doesn't half have a lot of similarities to the GS - the split seat, the trellis frame, the singlesided swingarm, the twin lights, shaft drive... But I suppose after so many years of development, BMW has worked out exactly what riders want in an adventure bike and it is now almost the industry standard. So that is probably to be expected...


TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER
Engine
: 1,215cc, liquid-cooled, triple, DOHC, fuel injection
Power: 135hp at 12,000rpm
Torque: 89lb ft at 6,400rpm
Top speed: 150mph (est)
Weight: 259kg (dry)
MPG: 48
Price: £11,149

 

Author
Discussion

JVaughan

Original Poster:

6,025 posts

282 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
As a diehard Honda Fan, I was disheartened when they discontinued the Africa Twin. Not wishing to go the BMW route like so many of my biker friends on the back of "Long Way around", I hung up my gloves and lid, whilst looking for a suitable replacment that looked as good IMHO as the old XRV-750.

The KTM "Adventurer" looked promissing but again it didnt really do it for me .. HOWEVER .. This I like ... Pennies at the ready, I'll see what it rides like though before making a decision .. but so far.. I like !

Numeric

1,393 posts

150 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Looks very good and could well feature for me when they start appearing on the second hand market. As for the cruise control - I finally had a go on a bike with it fitted and was very quickly won over as it was nice to relax without having to watch speed etc. Though for me it would be of most help on my naked as I see the biggest variations on speed as different wind levels or body movements have such an effect. Mind you as with the first time I used it on a car it can for a few miles feel a little out of control!

J B L

4,199 posts

214 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
My boss bought one coming from a long history of sports bikes and sports tourer ownership. He p/x his Busa for one and I think he won't look back.

His only criticism is that the pegs touch down too early hehe

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Article said:
So I wouldn't like to say if it is better or worse than the, but it is it is certainly different.
I'd say the word there 'GS' is missing there. Apart from that it sounds a good bike from the write up thumbup

dirtbiker

1,165 posts

165 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
Good write up but you're missing a couple of hundred kilos from your weight figure at the bottom!

jason61c

5,978 posts

173 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
WOW just 59kg dry??

It must be made of helium!


CV35Ian

16 posts

164 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
I have a 2006 1200GS, and absolutely love it - almost bought a Tiger at the time but chain drive put me off.

So all of a sudden we have 3 proper shaftie choices:
BMs GS - what will they do next to make it stand out from the crowd?
The aforementioned Triumph, but is the engine a bot too complex.
Moto Guzzi Stelvio, actually my favourite, more exclusive than the BM (and probably the Triumph), with legendary Italian reliability and build quality...............ar*e, just remembered why I didnt buy one of these!!

Good luck to all 3, some proper competition in this sector might help us all.

toxgobbler

2,903 posts

190 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
I'd like to raise the number of recalls BMW have issued vs Triumph as a factor in triumph's favour, more reliable than the Italians & the Germans it would seem, another reason to buy British.

Evidence (and these are only a few of them):

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...

http://www.i-bmw.com/showthread.php?t=31477

http://www.usrecallnews.com/2008/06/thousands-of-b...

http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/recalls.htm


Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
toxgobbler said:
I'd like to raise the number of recalls BMW have issued vs Triumph as a factor in triumph's favour, more reliable than the Italians & the Germans it would seem, another reason to buy British.
clap



off_again

12,252 posts

233 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
For balance, I would say that my Tiger 800 has had two recalls - though standard service items rather than needing emergency recall. One for the centre stand spring (it was too small / weak) and one for the ECU update (in certain situations when hot, idle wouldnt quite work).

With the Explorer, its got a whole load of new electronics, so I fully expect to see a few issues over the next few months. That said, they deliberately delayed the release until they were happy with reliability.

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all

I think it's a great effort by Triumph as an all-round road bike, and deserves to do well, but was unsure if I'd be able to get on with the hair-trigger, lightweight throttle. I found it a bit annoying to ride at town speeds because of that.


camel_landy

4,863 posts

182 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Hmmm....

IMO it would have been a much better article if the GS wasn't mentioned every other sentence. Comparing against the GS just goes to re-inforce its number 1 slot and the benchmark everyone else tries to aspire to... All you've basically said is that the Triumph is a great bike but it isn't a GS!!!

For the next article, how about a 3x way comparison between the GS, Super Tenere & Explorer as they are 3x shaft driven bikes all targeting the same market??

M

PILCH 23

170 posts

199 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
I would like to test one as it does seem to be a good all round bike. When it is tested again they should try it with a pillion and luggage to see how that affects it too.

toxgobbler

2,903 posts

190 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
Suspect it'll be ight on the money for Pillion as I own a Tiger 1050 and it's fine for touring 2 up and the 800 seems just as good.

vonhosen

40,198 posts

216 months

Thursday 24th May 2012
quotequote all
PILCH 23 said:
I would like to test one as it does seem to be a good all round bike. When it is tested again they should try it with a pillion and luggage to see how that affects it too.
Read RIDE this month (July edition).

Gary C

12,313 posts

178 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Picture made me smile.

Just like my friend John who was snapped while out riding a prototype Triumph bike by MCM.

He has the front page of MCM framed and hung in his toilet now.